Every May or June we visit the practicing matrones (Traditional Birth Attendants) to see how they are doing and distribute the supplies they need to get through the rainy season otherwise known as the malaria season. This is our biggest problem and the only cause of maternal mortality in the last five years. We distribute […]
Fall mission 2025
We have not been able to visit our hardworking matrones since 2023, but the local team keeps the project going. I was able to have a FaceTime call with them in November. We all were crying. I miss them. The reports from 61 matrones revealed only one maternal mortality in 612 deliveries.
Delivering Hope in the Sahara–Ojai Quarterly Article Fall 2025
Dr Bob Skankey commissioned me to create a series of paintings of our experiences in Niger. This was in December of 2024. I finished them and shipped them off in January. In March. Dr. Bob passed away. He has left a hole in my heart and the planet.
Midterm mission to resupply the traditional birth attendants
Every year we visit our matrones (traditional birth attendants) twice. In summer it is to resupply them with meds and mosquito nets for the rainy season when malaria is rampant. In fall it is to collect their annual reports and re-inforce their training. Because of the dangerous political situation we have not been […]
Tamesna borehole–finally
Interrupted as a result of the coup whose leadership froze the movement of the drilling equipment for a time, the work on our well has finally started. Pipes are going from the tank to the clinic and school and a trough for the animals. Nothing is easy in Niger, but we keep plugging away and […]
New Satellite Internet from Rotary
Thanks to a generous grant from Rotary Club of Ojai and Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise we were able to purchase a satellite internet constellation that would enable us to have ZOOM calls with the local staff in Niger and allow our US medical team to communicate with the trainers and trainees in the […]
Retraining in Ingall
The Tamesna matrones delivered a total of 445 babies, with 2 maternal mortalities, 5 infant mortalities, 11 infections, 13 hemorrhages, and 14 cases of malaria.
Retraining in Iferouane
Due to political insecurity, we were forced to postpone our mission with the US team to check up on the matrones practicing in Niger. The Iferouane team is Aghali, Assalama and Fatima. Aghali picks up the matrones from their remote camps, and orders their supplies, and meds from Assalama’s list. Their needs are determined […]
Mosquito nets for the matrones
Every year we check in with the matrones just before the rainy season which usually starts in June. The rainy season is also the season when malaria hits so we want our practicing matrones to be able to protect their pregnant patients. We distribute mosquito nets and fansidar (a medicine used to prevent and to […]
